Ventilating construction



Nov. 21, 1939. R. e. MOREY VENTILATING CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Aug. 1, 1956 Nov. 21, 1939. R. G. MOREY VENTILATING CONSTRUCTIONFiled Aug. 1, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 21 1939.

'R. e. MOREY 2,180,945

VENTILATING CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 1, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet s Nov. 21,1939. 5, MOREY 2J$Q945 VENTILATING CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 1, 1936 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 21, 1939 PATENT OFFICE VENTILATINGCONSTRUCTION auger a. Morey, Madison, Wis, a d: to Burgels BatteryCompany, Chicago, 111., a corporation Wisconsin Application sum 1, 1m,Serial No. 93,791;

This invention relates to improvements in ventilating systems,especially in the modern constructions which supply large volumes ofventilating air to the space to be ventilated without drafts by means ofdistributors of relatively large area.

Until recently, the practice has been to introduce ventilating air intoa room through the customary register or grille the principal functionof which is to direct'the air in the desired directions and also toobscure the interior of the end portion of the ventilating duct fromview. In this construction the air from the ventilating fan passing intothe room creates drafts due to the high velocities necessary to securegood distribution. These drafts are injurious to health and the cause ofdiscomfort to those in the room, as is especially apparent in thoseinstallations where the air is cooled. The ventilating art has developeda construction which eliminates this objectionable feature. Instead ofthe conventional grille, or grilles, a distributor is provided which isof relatively large area and which may be co-extensive in area with theceiling of the room to be ventilated, this feature operating to bringabout a low effective air velocity in the room, even when large volumesare introduced. Sound absorbing constructions are conveniently combinedwith this type of air distribution. A diiiiculty encountered in thiscombined type of construction is the control of the flow of air throughthe distributor to secure the desired uniformity of distribution. Aprincipal object of this invention is to provide a means for securingthis control.

Other objects are to provide air flow control which is readily adaptableto the varying conditions of different installations and which issusceptible of exacting adjustment and also to provide definitepassageways through the air distributor which will not impair theeiiiciency of the sound absorbing construction when sound absorbingmaterial is used as a distributor.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom a reading of the following specification in which constructionsillustrative of the invention are described.

' In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a form of the air flow regulatingmanifold;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the manifold shown in Fig. 1 taken at 2-2;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a manifold adapted to be adjusted forvarious desired rates of air flow;

Fig. 4 shows the modified type of air flow regu-a lator of Fig. 17installed in sound-absorbing material;

Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly in section, of a room showing theventilating construction combined with an acoustical correctiontreatment in which my invention is used;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an acoustic tile used in the ceiling ofFig. 5;

Fig. '1 is a perspective view of a sound-absorb ing panel used with thetile of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section taken at 88 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a section taken at 9-9 of Fig. 5 showing the assembly ofmanifolds, panels and tiles;

Fig. 10 is a section taken at l0i0 of Fig. 9 showing a manifoldinstalled;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation partly in section taken at ll-ll of Fig. 12showing a modification of the air flow regulating manifold;

Fig. 12 shows an assembly section taken at l2-l2 of Fig. 13 of themodification illustrated in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the assembly of Fig. 12; 7

Fi .1! is a further modification of the manifold;

Fig. 15 is an assembly detail of the modification of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the assembly of Fig.15;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the air flow regulator of Fig. 4.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, an air flow regulating manifold I is shown.This device may be formed from channels 2 and 3, (Fig. 2) channel 3being inserted between flanges 4 and 5 of channel 2 to form a space 8within the manifold. Retaining flanges I and 8 are bent around channel 3to secure it in position. Punched slots 9 of channel 2 are aligned withcorresponding slots in channel 3 to provide communication through thisedge of the manifold into space 6. Retaining flange 8 is bent out at thepoints at which slots Ill are punched in channel 3 forming lips II anduncovering slots III. A short portion of retaining sound-absorbingmaterial wrapped with substantially air-impervious, sound transparentmembrane such as paper. Other membranes such as metal foil, Cellophane,etc. may be used. If the sound-absorbing material is sufficiently dense,the panels need not be wrapped, or may be wrapped in a woven materialsuch as muslin. A slight fiow of air through the panel is notobjectionable, a panel or wrapping therefor being consideredair-impervious if resistance to. air flow is adequate to causesubstantially all of the air to pass through the control conduitsprovided in the distributor. Panel I3 fits into tile I1 and an air flowcontrolling manifold is inserted betweeneach flange 23 and the adjacentedge of panel I6 to make one of the units which collectively formdistributor I3, spacers I8 being provided to hold panel I6 away fromtile bottom I5. The totality of panels I 6 and control manifolds I indistributor I3 form the restriction member of the distributor, the laterterm including the perforated tile in addition to the restrictionmember. The function of the restriction member is to control the flow ofair from plenum chamber IS in such a way that an appreciable" pressureis maintained therein and the air passes through any part of the memberin predetermined quantities, which flow may be uniform throughout thearea of the member. Spacers I8, either perforated or solid, are spacedfrom the tile as shown in Fig. 8 to provide better air distributionbetween the tile and panel. The distributor is supported by means offurring strips. 20 of the type disclosed in Weiss Patent No. 1,738,469and open-web I- beams 2i, which, with ceiling I4, forms plenum chamberor air reservoir I3 which is supplied with ventilating air from duct 22.The air-impervious panel wrappings prevent the air in the plenum chamberwhich is under a low pressure from passing through the panels when anairpervious sound-absorbing material is used in the panel.

In operation the air in plenum chamber I3 flows, as indicated by thedirectional arrows'iri. Fig. 9, through the restriction member by meansof the passageways defined by the manifold I (Figs. 8 to 10) which isinserted between panel l6 and flange 23 of tile I1 and passes into thespace below tile bottom I5 through the apertures throughout the entirearea thereof. The resiliency of the material of which panels I6 arecomposed tends to seal the Joints betweenabutting surfaces of flange 23,manifold I and panel I6. In the process of manufacture of tile II, abead 24 may beimpressed upon flange 23. A corresponding groove 23 isrolled into strip 2 of manifold I (Fig. 2), thus providing a more rigidseat for the manifold and preventing leakage of air between manifold Iand flange 23. Shoulder 7.36 is provided on the manifold to rest uponflange 23 and project slightly beyond it, the purpose of this shoulderbeing to form a seal between adjacent tiles, as at 21, and to assistears I2 which rest upon tile bottom I5 in maintaining the manifold inits proper position. Indentations 23 are provided at intervals in strip3 to prevent the collapse of the manifold. In order to prevent thepassage of air through or around the ends of the manifold and also toprevent rattle, felts 3b are positioned in the ends and held in place byindentations 29. It may be desirable for some installations to perforatethe surface of the manifold adjacent the panel to prevent passage ofsound tll fql g l i 1'5 described hereinafter in connection with Figs. 4and 17.

The proper volume of air which should be supplied to a room or otherspace varies with each installation and therefore the rate of flowthrough the restriction member of the distributor must be regulated toobtain the proper air distribution throughout its area preferably bymeans of the correct air pressure in the plenum' chamber. Anyadjustments in the rate of flow of ventilating air into the" room mustbe made in the distributor itself rather than by a damper in duct 22since a slight pressure must be maintained in plenum chamber I9 in orderto secure uniform distribution of the air entering the room. It isobvious that if the volume of air supplied to the plenum chamber weredecreased without providing compensating restriction in the airdistributor, the pressure would drop to that of the room and the airwould pass unevenly through the distributor, most of it passing througha limited area in line with the opening of duct 22. The desiredrestriction in the distributor has heretofore been obtained by varyingthe size of panel used in the restriction member to leave a spacebetween its edges and the flanges of the supporting tile through whichthe air may pass. The present invention provides a more positive controlof the proportion of open area to the total area of the restrictionmember and of the extent of the openings in various portions of therestriction member through which the air may pass.

When the total volume of air to be supplied to a particular room and thearea of the disslots 34 and, since sheet metal is used, any 1 number ofslots may be opened for communication of the space enclosed in manifold3| with the space between panel l6 and tile bottom I5 by bending outsections of flange 32, as at 35. Lips 35 and it serve as bailles todirect the air laterally into the space between panels and tile'bottom,thereby distributing the air evenly over the tiles. Slots 38 aresufllciently numerous to allow the passage of the maximum flow of airthrough slots 34 when none are obstructed by flange 32. It also ispossible to control the .air flow by adjusting the number of openings 9in manifold I as by pasting paper over those openings which are inexcess of the required number.

In some installations it maybe desirable to provide greater restrictionto the fiow of air through distributor l3 at zones of the distributorthrough which the air tends to flow in greater quantities, as at areanear the duct 22 outlet. This may be done readily by using an adjustabledevice, such as manifold M, and uncovering the proper number of slots 34or closing the proper number of openings 9 of manifold I. Manifold 3| isshown installed in Fig. 9 in the left hand tile, slots 34 being coveredby flange 32 in the section shown.

A modified form of the air flow regulating manifold is shown in Figs..11, 12 and 13. Manifold 31 is formed from a single strip of sheet metalor other suitable material, which has been slotted at 38 and 39 andopening 42 being left between the edge of the strip and the side of themanifold to provide passageway for the air as is indicated by thedirectional arrows in Fig. 12. Sound-absorbing panels 40 and 4i whichare one-half as large as panel l6 (Fig. 7), are placed in tile I! withmanifold 31 inserted between them. Air passes into slots 38, through themanifold, and is distributed laterally over tile face IE on both sidesof the manifold by means of slots 39 and the opening at 42. The totalarea of slots 38 should be approximately the same as opening 42, todistribute equal quantitles of air to both parts of tile II. The volumeof air may be controlled by regulating the number of the slots 38 whichremain open.

A further modification is shown in Figs. 14, 15 and 16. The spacers I8shown in Fig. 6 are replaced by tubular panel supports 43 which havetheir end 44 turned up to open into the space above panel i8. Slots 46provided along opposite elements of the tubular surface, that is, on aset of longitudinal lines on the surface of the spacer along the sidesthereof allow air taken into support 43 from the plenum chamber to passinto the space above tile bottom i from which it can pass through theperforations into the room. Supporting hooks 46 may be provided toengage the edge of tile flange 23, spacing both panel I 8 and conduit 43from tile bottom I! and also retaining air conduit support 43 inposition, or ear 48a may be used as an alternative means of support. Theturned-up ends '44 may fit into recesses in panel l6, as at 41. However,panels i6 usually are flexible enough to fit snugly about ends 44 sothat'there is not any appreciable air leakage.

A further modification is shown in Figs. 4 and 17. This device has atubular portion 48 and a cup 48 constructed to receive a disc 50 havingorifice H in its center. The opposite end of the tubular portion 48 isclosed and slots 52 provided to allow air entering through orifice 5| topass out laterally into the space between panel I! and perforated tilebottom I! (Fig. 4). Discs with various sizes of orifices maybe provided,and the flow of air through the distributor fixed at any desired amountby a proper choice of disc The tubular portion 48 may be of any desiredshape, that is, square, oval, oblong, hexagonal, etc. instead of beingcircular as shown. It may be perforated as shown to prevent sound frompassing through the acoustical air distributor, since the perforationsallow the sound to be absorbed by the sound-absorbing material of panelsl8 adjacent the perforations. It may be desirable to wrap the perforatedportion of these tubular devices 48 in an air-impervious,sound-transparent membrane, such as paper, to prevent bloating of thepanels I 8 by air passing through the perforations into the panel. Sucha membrane is shown in section in the assembly view (Fig. 4) at 53. Aplurality of these regulators may be placed in each panel IO.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that adistributor provided with the air flow regulaing means described hereinhas advantages over those constructions in which a more or less randomarrangement of panels was used. Air supplied to the plenum chamber isdistributed by controlled means so that it enters the room uniformly ata large number of distributed points, passing slowly through the room ina blanket-like manner, free from drafts.

I claim:

1. Means for uniformly distributing ventilating air as it enters a roomcomprising a plenum chamber, a plurality of sheet-form, substantiallyair-impervious panels arranged edge to-edge to form a partition betweensaid chamber and the room to be ventilated, and a plurality of air flowregulating members inserted between abutting edges of adjacent panels toform defined passageways for the flow of air therethrough, the totalopen area of said regulating members hearing such relation to the volumeof ventilating air supplied to said plenum chamber that a low butappreciable pressure ismaintained therein, whereby to cause uniformityof air flow through substantially all of said regulating members.

2. Air distributing means as in claim 1 in which the substantiallyair-impervious panels are of sound-absorbing material.

3. In an air distributor for a ventilating system, a restriction membercomprising a plurality of substantially air-impervious panels in spacededge-to-edge relationship, channel means separate from and passing fromone side to the other of said restriction member inserted in the spacesbetween said panels, and an apertured member spaced from saidrestriction member in the direction of air flow through said restrictionmember.

4. In an air distributor for a ventilating system, a sheet-formrestriction member of substaniialy aipimpervious material, an aperturedmember spaced from said restriction member in the direction of air flowthrough said restriction member, and a multiplicity of air flowregulating members distributed throughout the area of said restrictionmember and providing communication of predetermined restriction betweenthe spaces adjoining the opposed surfaces of said restriction member.

5. In a ventilating system, the combination with the wall or ceiling ofthe room to be ventilated of an apertured sheet-form member spaced fromsaid wall or ceiling, a sheet-form partition of substantiallyair-impervious material spaced between said wall or ceiling and saidapertured .member to form a plenum chamber between said wall or ceilingand said partition, means for continuously supplying ventilating air tosaid chamber, said partition having a plurality of distributed openingstherein, and air flow regulating members comprising channels of definedrestriction associated with said partition at said openings therein,said regulating members comprising bathe means for controlling thedirection of flow of air from said plenum chamber to the space betweensaid apertured member and said partition. 6. In a ventilating system,the combination with the wall or ceiling of the room to be ventilated ofan apertured sheet-form member spaced from said wall or ceiling, asheet-form partition of substantially air-impervious material spacedbetween said wall or ceiling and said apertured member to form a plenumchamber between said wall or ceiling and said partition. means forcontinuously supplying ventilating air to said chamher, and a pluralityof air flow regulating members comprising channels of definedrestriction distributed in and passing through said partition, saidregulating members comprising baiiie means for directing the fiow of airlaterally into the space between said apertured member and saidpartition.

7. An air flow regulating device comprising a hollow elongated member ofsheet metal having closed ends and relatively broad opposed sides itsand relatively narrow opposed sides whereby the cross section of saidmember is substantially rectangular, a plurality of openings distributedalong one of the narrow sides and a plurality of openings in one of thebroad sides at a portion thereof which is remote from said firstmentioned openings, said openings in said broad side being covered withturned-up tabs of sheet metal constituting said device, saidconstruction being such that said tabs of sheet metal may be turned downto open the desired number of openings in said broad side whereby theflow of air through said distrbutor when in service may be regulated.

8. The combination with a perforated sheetform member of a plurality ofsubstantially airimpervious sound-absorbing panels placed edgeto-edgeand spaced from said sheet-form member, and an insert member comprisinga duct positioned between adjoining edges of said panels, theconstruction being .so arranged that said duct of said insert memberdefines the open space between said adjoining edges whereby restrictedcommunication is provided between the spaces adjoining the oppositebroad surfaces of said panels.

9. In an air distributor for a ventilating system comprisingsound-absorbing construction, in combination, a sheet-form member havinga multiplicity of apertures therein, spacers comprising channels ofperforated sheet material spaced from said sheet-form member,sound-absorbing substantially air-impervious panels placediedge-to-edgesupported by said spacers, and an insert member positioned between andabutting against adjacent edges of said panels, said insert memberhaving openings in the exposed surfaces thereof for the passage of airtherethrough.

10. The combination with a flanged perforated sheet-form member of apanel of resilient sound-v absorbing material covered with asubstantially air-impervious sound ,transparent membrane within saidflanged member and spaced from the broad surface thereof, and a hollowelongated insert member having two sets of openings along the lateralsurfaces thereof, one set being remote from the other, said elongatedmember being positioned between a flange of said flanged member and theadjoining edge of said panel, said panel being of such size and shapethat the edge thereof is urged against the abutting surface of saidinsert member to form an air-tight joint between said flange and saidinsert member and said panel and said insert member.

11. The combination with a flanged perforated sheet-form member of apanel of sound-absorbing material covered with a substantiallyair-impervious sound-transparent membrane within said flanged member andspaced from the broad sur face thereof, a hollow elongated insert memberhaving two sets of openings along the lateral surfaces thereof, one setbeing remote from the ber from said broad surface of said flangedmember,

12. The combination with a pair of flanged perforated sheet-form membersarranged edgeto-edge with contiguous flanges of a pair of panels ofresilient sound-absorbing material covered with substantiallyair-impervious soundtransparent membranes within said flanged membersand spaced from the broad surfaces thereof, and a pair of hollow,elongated insert members each having two sets of openings along thelateral surfaces thereof, one set being remote from the other, one ofsaid elongated members being positioned between said contiguous flangeof one of said flanged members and the adjoining edge of the paneltherein, the other of said elongated members being positioned betweensaid contiguous flange of the other flanged member and the adjoiningedge of the panel therein, said elongated members projecting slightlyabove the upper edges of said contiguous flanges and having overhangshoulders extending longitudinally said elongated members abutting eachother to thereby form a substantially air-tight joint.

13. The combination with a pan of perforated sheet material of asubstantially air-impervious sound-absorbing panel fitting into said panand abutting against the turned-up edges thereof,

and one or more tubular spacers between said panel and said pan havingone or more openings in diametrically opposite elements of said spacers,the ends of said spacers being bent at right angles to the plane of saidelements and opening into the space above said panel therebyestablishing communication between the spaces adjacent the two broadsurfaces of said panel.

14. In an air distributor for a ventilating system, asheet-formrestriction member of substantially air-impervious material, and meanspassing through said restriction member for regulating the flow of airthrough said member comprising a tube having one end closed, a disc, anoriflce in said disc having a diameter less than the inside diameter ofsaid tube, a cup-shaped recess at the open end of said tube adapted toreceive said oriflced disc, and one or more openings in said tube nearthe closed end thereof.

15. The device of claim 14 in whichthe tube is perforated.

